Commission approves Free Lakes softball spring schedule with conditions; fields, poles and repairs remain a concern

The Lakeville Park Commission on March 27 approved Free Lakes softball's application to use the town fields for the spring season, with commissioners asking for a clarified schedule and asking staff to address safety and maintenance concerns before full-season play.

Brandon Richard spoke for the organization and said the group planned practices from April 1 through July 30 and games beginning late April; commissioners noted the schedule could change pending repairs to light poles and field equipment. "If the poles are up and secure, that's great — that's the risk," a parks official said, adding that two replacement poles had arrived and crews expected to install them soon.

Commissioners approved the application with an amendment to limit the initial authorization to the traditional spring season and to require organizers to coordinate final practice and game dates with parks staff once field lights and poles are operational. The motion passed after discussion about volunteer labor, equipment storage, and recurring maintenance needs.

Softball representatives raised several maintenance and funding issues during the meeting: replacement of several light poles at the complex (projected cost north of $10,000), repeated damage to a storage shed and questions about prevailing-wage requirements for repairs, use and ownership of a recently purchased storage container, availability of stone dust deliveries for field infield work, and potential access to an onsite well for nonpotable irrigation. Organizers also asked whether volunteer labor could help with repairs; staff said volunteer work requires town approval and some projects may trigger prevailing-wage or contracting rules.

Commissioners and staff committed to the following follow-up actions: confirm electric and pole installation timing with the contractor and utility; clarify whether the town or leagues will fund or perform repairs that trigger prevailing-wage rules; confirm whether the snack-shack sink and related plumbing can be reactivated now that town water is available; and coordinate delivery of field mix and stone dust. The commission said it would revisit longer-term repairs and funding requests at the next meeting.

Why it matters: Approving the spring schedule keeps local youth sports on track, but commissioners highlighted multiple infrastructure and funding gaps — light poles, irrigation, dugout and shed repairs and volunteer-labor limits — that could disrupt play or add unexpected costs to the leagues.